What keeps a forklift from tipping over?

Ever wondered why a forklift doesn’t just tip over from all the weight its carrying? Think about it: you have a this small vehicle with two metal forks on one end carrying thousands of pounds of product or material. You would think it would just fall face first with all that weight.

The answer is pretty simple really: the forklift is heavier than whatever it’s carrying. The forklift itself acts as a counterweight to the load it’s carrying. On top of that, the back of the forklift, furthest from the material being transported, has an extra counterweight. This ensures that the weight of the load won’t overpower the forklift.

However, this doesn’t mean that they never tip over. Just like everything else, accidents do happen. An imbalanced load or a turn too sharp can spell disaster for a forklift operator. As far as weight goes though, each forklift has a weight rating that it’s designed to handle. Loads within this limit should be safe for the forklift to handle (knowing the exact weight of certain material is where forklift scales come in).

A properly trained forklift operator aware of the weight limits of his or her forklift is the best defense against forklift accidents.